Shyam Benegal: Film personalities remember one of the finest filmmakers

Filmmakers and stars pay tribute to Shyam Benegal, a master storyteller who redefined Indian cinema with his films.

Filmmakers Shekhar Kapur, Hansal Mehta, and cine stars Manoj Bajpayee, Akshay Kumar, and Kajol paid homage to Shyam Benegal, calling the veteran director a master storyteller who redefined cinema and inspired generations with his films.

Benegal, one of the pioneers of the Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s, died on Monday at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital due to chronic kidney disease.

Known for films like his 1974 debut "Ankur", "Mandi", "Nishant", "Mammo", and "Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda" that explored social themes still relevant in the country through layered characters, the director celebrated his 90th birthday just nine days ago on December 14.

Kapur bid farewell to his "friend and guide" in a post on X.

Filmmaker Shyam Benegal death reactions LIVE

"He created ‘the new wave’ cinema. #shyambenegal will always be remembered as the man that changed the direction of Indian Cinema with films like Ankur, Manthan and countless others. He created stars out of great actors like Shabama Azmi and Smita Patil," the filmmaker wrote on the microblogging platform.

Addressing Benegal as Shyam Babu, as he was known to friends and collaborators, Mehta thanked the filmmaker for being an inspiration.